Latest Napa Homeless Count Reveals 'Encouraging Trends'

NAPA COUNTY, CA —Significant progress has been made in addressing homelessness in Napa County, officials said of the findings of the recently conducted 2024 Point-In -Time Count, an annual census of people experiencing homelessness.

Preliminary data from the PIT count showed an 18 percent decrease in homeless people in Napa County between January 2023 and January 2024, according to a news release issued jointly Monday by the city and county of Napa.

The PIT Count is an annual census conducted to measure the prevalence of homelessness in each community and collect information on people and families in emergency shelters and transitional housing, as well as people sleeping on the streets, in cars, abandoned properties or other places not meant for human habitation.

Data from the count is shared with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and provides valuable data for policymakers, service providers and advocates to assess the scope of homelessness and effectively allocate resources.

Napa city and county officials attributed the decline in the overall count of people experiencing homelessness to increases in housing-focused services and strategic investments by both entities.

"This decline is particularly noteworthy, as it marks a concerted effort to address the structural factors contributing to homelessness in the region," the city and county said. "This decrease also returns the Napa County community to numbers below what existed before the COVID-19 pandemic."

The report for the 2024 PIT Count has not yet been released to the public or the media.

The PIT Count for 2023 revealed there were at least 506 homeless people —sheltered and unsheltered — in the city and county of Napa, where the total population is around 133,000. The demographic breakdown showed 414 homeless were white; 143 were Hispanic or Latino; 13 were black or African American or African; 30 were American Indian, Indigenous or Native Alaskan; three were Asian or Asian American; five were Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; and 31 were multiple races. Of those counted, 320 were male and 186 were female; 349 were unsheltered and 126 were sheltered, according to the data for 2023.

A complete report on the 2024 PIT Count will be presented publicly at a joint meeting of the Napa County Board of Supervisors and the Napa City Council planned for 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, at the Napa City Council Chambers, 955 School Street in Napa.

The report will also be posted to the city and county websites.

According to the city and county, the breakdown of the 2024 PIT Count revealed several key insights:

• Sheltered count increase: The number of people sleeping in emergency shelters has increased by 34 percent compared to the previous year, as a result of significant expansion in emergency shelter capacity.
• Unsheltered count decline: Conversely, the count of people sleeping in places not meant for human habitation has seen a notable 42 percent decline. This reflects significant progress in providing adequate emergency shelter capacity and permanent housing solutions for individuals experiencing homelessness.
• First-time homeless: While the overall trends are positive, there has been a concerning increase in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness for the first time. This underscores the ongoing challenges posed by economic and housing market conditions in Napa County.

The city and county have collaborated with many community partner agencies in multiple strategies to address homelessness and focus on long-term solutions by tackling the root causes. Efforts have included:

• Expanded shelter capacity: Through the opening of the North Napa Center Encampment Resolution Program and the renovation of the South Napa Shelter, over 100 new shelter beds have been added in the last year, providing safe and secure accommodations for those experiencing homelessness.
• Permanent supportive housing: Investments in permanent supportive housing, such as the Valley Lodge Apartments and Heritage House, have resulted in over 134 formerly chronically homeless people moving into permanent housing. These developments include vital social support services to help residents stabilize and rebuild their lives.
• Collaborative approach: The city and county have fostered partnerships with various agencies, including nonprofit service partners, healthcare agencies, law enforcement and public safety agencies, and Health & Human Services, to ensure coordinated efforts in connecting individuals to emergency shelter, permanent housing and social support services.
• Pursuing state and federal resources: The city and county have actively sought funding opportunities made available by the state and federal governments. This data demonstrates the effectiveness of investing in programs that provide comprehensive service.

"The success of these initiatives reflects a coordinated and comprehensive approach to addressing homelessness in Napa County," the city and county said. "While challenges persist, the data from the 2024 PIT Count demonstrate tangible progress and offer hope for continued improvement in the years to come."